i decided to take the family here for something different - many thanks to zomato for the info. though the place was not that difficult to find, getting there was quite a challenge. we had lunch here last february 10, and there was a road construction going on. the rough road that led to the restaurant was being cemented so vehicles had to take turns in crossing.
we were able to park inside since it was still a bit early - i made a reservation for four at one in the afternoon but we arrived before twelve. even so, a table was already prepared for us. it was quite a lovely corner of the patio, with a large bamboo couch with corner posts where a white fabric was draped for effect. the place was a large home that was converted into a restaurant, housing quite a number of asian décor. there was a large open area under a purple tent to accommodate more guests. i would have liked to be seated there but the pictures would all turn up with an ube hue.
our lively kuya server - every staff we encountered was very friendly - suggested we start with the fresh spring rolls. i was eyeing the crispy catfish with mango salad but decided to take on his suggestion. one thing i was certain of, i was going to order the kaeng deng kha moo or crispy pata, simply because it was sinfully oily and fatty and it was a cheat day. and i missed it so much. i also ordered pla som rod or the crispy tilapia because we needed a seafood dish, to lessen the guilt of the previous order, even if it was also deep fried. instead of individual servings of rice, kuya mentioned the catfish flakes fried rice and since i wanted something with catfish, this was a no brainer. of course, a visit to a thai restaurant would not be complete without trying their version of pad thai.
as we waited for our orders to be served, a complimentary plate of crispy cracklings was brought to our table. the family happily munched on this while i walked around the place and took some pictures. and i noticed that the lunch crowd was starting to arrive. good thing me made a reservation.
first to arrive were the spring rolls, six larger than bite size pieces, presented beautifully that i had to take a lot of pictures. it was indeed fresh, and i had to grimace when i happened to bite upon a piece of cilantro - it's not one of my favorite herbs. mom would have laughed at my expression if she was not busy slurping on her melon shake that she devoured in a few minutes. but unfortunate incident with cilantro aside, i liked this slightly different take on the lumpiang sariwa because it was a lot spicier. and i like that welcome crunch from the herbs and vegetables i get when i bite into a piece, just not that with the cilantro.
the tilapia dish was just...okay for me, it was a little sweet for my liking. plus it was a while since i last had tilapia that i guess i outgrew the preference. family loved it, though. and props to the little garden of fried basil that covered the entire fish.
the crispy pata was...yummy. sorry for lack of a better term but it was simply what every crispy pata should be. i liked that the skin was fried to a crisp but it was not as tough that you would have a hard time chewing on it. it was crispy, crunchy and the slightest chewy - on the good side. the crisp meat part was also tender on the inside, despite the golden brown, toasted exterior. they served this dish with a curry sauce on the side, again a little sweet. but since the meat was seasoned just right, the sauce was not really necessary, in my opinion. i was, kind of, missing the sourness from pinakurat at this moment to cut through that umay factor from all that fat. by the way, serving was big.
the rice...was a meal by itself. it could be eaten on its own with all that going on in that mountain of a serving, seriously it was huge. you have to try it to know what i mean. it was simply delicious. thank you kuya for suggesting this.
because we wanted to leave room for dessert, we opted to have the pad thai for take out. the kao neiw mamaung (really, these thai words are giving me a headache to spell) or the sticky rice with mango was simply that, sticky rice with mango. the sticky rice was gelatinously soft and sweet while the yellow mango arranged like a rose on top was tart. the princess and i loved pouring the coconut sauce placed on a tiny white pitcher placed on the side. it resembled the taste of the sabaw of ginataan, on the thicker side. a little pricey, but it was something worth trying.
their house blend iced tea was good, not that clear and sugary one you get from some restaurants. but i suggest the tamarind shake. the slightly sour taste will help cut through all that fatty taste, as well as the sweetness.
the pad thai, as well as the other leftovers that we had, was still good when reheated. it had generous pieces of chicken and shrimps. and i liked the way they toasted the scrambled egg, like it was a crispy, thick golden cloud on top of the noodles. so far, this has to be my favorite take on the dish, even if it was a reheat.
all in all, a great lunch. quite a challenge to get to the location because of the rough and narrow road. it's no surprise why people flock to the place even if it is tucked away from the more popular side of the area. food was great, meant for sharing (better if you come in a group so you can sample more dishes). place was comfortable. service was very commendable.
just a suggestion, try to make a reservation before coming here, to be sure. there is bound to be a waitlist on weekends.